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OUTDOORS AND US 





























' 
































Outdoors 
A lNfD Us 



(By 

CP M ary 
Carolyn 
Davies 




(PhttadelphicL 

The Penn Publtshinq Company 



COPYRIGHT 
1922 BY 
THE PENN 
PUBLISHING 
COMPANY 



OUTDOORS AND US 



© C1A692098 


MADE IV THE U. S. A. 

NOV 28*22 


Outdoors And Us 


Outdoors and us, we get along together 
Most any day — especially rainy weather. 

For there are puddles then, and we like those t 
— T hough mother somehow thinks they hurt our 

clothes. 

Outdoors in town on Saturdays is good. 

But, oh, outdoors in summer in a wood 

Chuck full of chipmunks ! Rivers and canoe- 
ing! 

And lots of things for looking at and doing! 

Steep mountain trails and lazy lakes’ blue shores! 
My favorite place to he’s, to be Outdoors! 



























































T 


V 

*• 















































\pi# 1 

” CONTENTS 


PAGE 


The Sky House . . n 

To a Very Shy Chipmunk 12 

The Proud Christmas Tree ..... 13 

Pine Squirrel 14 

The Woodpecker 15 

Indians Make Their Bows of Yew . . .16 

Dear Little Fire That Used to Be Trees . . 17 

Precepts for Gardens 18 

Chipmunk Nests 19 

When Trees Grow Up 20 

Rabbits’ Habits 21 

The Postponed Meeting 22 

The Nest Up the Trail 23 

The Small Outdoors 24 

A Garden’s “Thank You” 25 

A Word to a Weed ...... 26 

After Pulling It Up ...... 27 

The Sand Carpenter 28 

A Soap Bubble Pipe ...... 29 

Where the Fairies Keep House . . . - 3 ° 

Our Constant Cat 3 1 

Our Cornstalk House 32 

The Perkins Cat ...•••• 33 

“I Know What Let’s Us Play!” .... 34 

Peggy Jane . . . • • • • -35 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

Kitten Thoughts 3 ^ 

My Dog’s Mine 37 

Their New Home 3 8 

The Christmas Candles . . • -39 

The Blue Egg 4 ° 

What the Bird Said About Us . . • 4 1 

The Monosyllabic Ducklet 4 2 

Wise Mother Nature 43 

The Ideal Birthday 44 

The Temptation to Work 45 

What to Do on Saturday 46 

So Not . 47 

When You’re Going On Seven . . . .48 

Building Blocks . . . . . *49 

To a Hobby Horse at Bedtime .... 50 

The Battlefield of the Kitchen Floor . . • 51 

What the Little Shoes Know . . . -52 

When I’m Grown Up and Am President . . 33 

A Candle’s Not Much Company . . . *54 

Yesterday I Was Nine Years Old . . *55 

An Enemy to Errands 36 

The Envious Errand 37 

Coyotes 38 

The Folks Who Live in Fairyland . . -39 

Pink 60 

If I’m Good All Through December . . .61 

A Piece of Eight and a Parrot Yellow . . .62 

At Just About Bedtime 63 

The Gwendolyn Complex 64 

The Sea Is a Fat Nurse . . . . 6<; 

The Neighbor Bird .66 

Pirates and Things 67 

Errands 68 

A Parrot to a Pirate’s Child . . . .69 

The Pirates’ Fight 70 



The Sky House 

PAGE 

Frontispiece 

To a Very Shy Chipmunk . 

12 

Indians Make Their Bows of Yew 

• 1 7 

Rabbits’ Habits ..... 

. 21 

A Word to a Weed .... 

26 

After Pulling It Up .... 

• 27 

A Soap Bubble Pipe .... 

. 29 

The Perkins Cat ..... 

• 33 

My Dog’s Mine ..... 

• 37 

What the Bird Said About Us . 

. 41 

What to Do on Saturday 

. 46 

To a Hobby Horse at Bedtime . 

• So 

What the Little Shoes Know 

• 52 

The Envious Errand .... 

• 57 

A Piece of Eight and a Parrot Yellow . 

. 62 

The Gwendolyn Complex . 

. . 64 

Pirates and Things .... 

. 67 









OUTDOORS AND US 


11 


The Sky House 

The sky is a window 
With curtain of blue, 

I wish they would draw it 
And let us see through! 

For a house with a window 
So curiously wide, 

With a curtain so blue, 

Must have nice things inside ! 


12 


OUTDOORS AND US 


To a Very Shy Chipmunk 


Little chipmunk, striped and wise, 




OUTDOORS AND US 


13 


The Proud Christmas Tree 

Our little parlor Christmas tree 
Rustled its boughs and said to me: 
“If I should be there in the wood, 

And tell the rabbits I was dressed 
In stars and tinsel and the rest ! 

Of course I won’t — but — if I should!” 


14 


OUTDOORS AND US 


Pine Squirrel 

Pine squirrel, I can climb a tree, 
Not so fast as you, maybe. 

And maybe not so high. — 

Oh, as up your pine you run 
And I clamber up this one 
Who could ever have more fun 
Squirrel, than you and I? 


OUTDOORS AND US 


The Woodpecker 

The woodpecker pecks at his tree all day, 
Pecking away, pecking away, 

And never has any time off for play. 

And I play all the time under his tree 
(He mightn’t like you but he doesn’t mind me) 
And now, though I wasn’t quite sure he’d be, 
The woodpecker’s friends with me! 


16 


OUTDOORS AND US 


Indians Make Their Bows of Yew 



Indians make their bows of yew; 

And Jim and I do, too. 

We choose a branch that has not got 
A single twig or stub or knot, 

A branch that’s firm, and straight, and true. 
And one that bends but will not break ; 
And whittle it at the ends, and make 
The splendidest bows you ever knew ! 

The bowstring’s made 
Of cord we braid 

Even and strong. Then Jim and I 
Wind it about one end, and tie. 

At the other end there’s a knot that we 
Slip off very easily 
In the times when we are not 
Using it. That keeps it taut. 

No Indian with his bow of yew 
Had half the fun that we two do ! 


OUTDOORS AND US 


17 


Dear Little Fire That Used to Be 
Trees 

Dear little fire that used to be trees 
That grew in the forest and bowed to the breeze, 
Bowed like at dancing school, sweeping and 
low; 

That whispered and rustled and stood in a row, 

Show us strange pictures of what you saw, 
please, 

Once, little fire, when you used to be trees! 


18 


OUTDOORS AND US 


Precepts for Gardens 

The garden knows the summer’s almost over, 
The flowers hang their heads and mourn its 
leaving, 

The purple asters droop; and even the clover 
And sturdy grass and candy-tuft are grieving. 
The hollyhocks slouch, sulking, in their places. 
There are no smiles on any pansy faces. 

O weary garden, wait; be brave, and smile. 
Summers come back in such a little while. 


OUTDOORS AND US 


19 


Chipmunk Nests 

It’s winter, and each chipmunk small 
Is hiding in its nest; 

And never comes outdoors at all, 

And that is really best. 

But in the spring they’ll all come out 
So lean you’d scarcely know them! 

And run and leap and flash about 
And eat the crumbs we’ll throw them. 

O chipmunk in your chipmunk nest, 

So furry, soft and brown! 

Dream, dream of us who love you best 
While we’re away in town. 

And when the winter’s reign is through 

The Spring will bring us back — and you! 


20 


OUTDOORS AND US 


When Trees Grow Up 

When trees grow up they’re not so nice to know. 

It is the children trees I like to be with. 

They tell me how it feels to catch the snow' 

In all their tiny hands, and how they grow; 

And what they eat and drink and feel and see 
with : 

And how with little roots they drink the rain. 
We understand each other just as plain! 

And children trees are just as tall as I. 

Big trees don’t notice me when I go by. 


OUTDOORS AND US 


21 


Rabbits’ Habits 

A snowshoe rabbit is brown, you know, 
’Til summer and spring are through. 
And it’s white in winter to match the snow. 
— We’re that way, too. 


For our necks and arms are tanned and brown 
As we swim and play, and then 
In winter when we are back in town, 

They all grow white again ! 

Do we, then, ape the rabbit’s habits, 

Or, were ours copied by the rabbits? 


22 


OUTDOORS AND US 


The Postponed Meeting 

O rabbit bounding haughtily, 

So impolitely, naughtily, 

It hurts me very much to see 
You do not want to play with me. 

We yet may meet, though, you and I 
When you’re grown up and are a pie. 


OUTDOORS AND US 


23 


The Nest Up the Trail 

There was a trail here, but it overgrew. 

I don’t mind branches in my hair, do you ? 

But mother does, and guests. 

They like birds’ nests 
If they can see 

Them from the porch, as they are having tea. 
— But it’s the thorniest trail that always brings 
You scratched and sweaty to the nicest things! 


24 


OUTDOORS AND US 


The Small Outdoors 

The small outdoors and the big outdoors — 

We like them both, but our choice ( — and yours 
I’ll bet!) is always the big outdoors! 

The small outdoors in our back yard 

We try to pretend (though it’s awfully hard!) 

Is the big outdoors. — But it’s just our yard! 

The big outdoors has mountains tall 
And wolves and boats and snakes and all ! 

— And our back yard is rather small! 

But we think to ourselves: at any rate 
The big outdoors is a stranger great 
Whom we go to see each year in state. 

But the Small Outdoors (if you pretend, 

You can walk through woods to our garden’s 
end !) 

Is nicer to know, for it’s our friend. 


OUTDOORS AND US 


25 


A Garden’s “Thank You” 

To make a garden needs 
First, seeds; 

Then all my time for pulling weeds! 

But soon my garden’s thanks are heard: 
Each carrot and each beet, a word! 


26 


OUTDOORS AND US 



A Word to a Weed 

Our garden doesn’t need 
You, weed! 

I wish you’d go away! 

Why don’t you wither up and die 
In this hot sun?— Instead, it’s I ! 





OUTDOORS AND US 


27 


— After Pulling It Up — 

How can I ever bear it? 

It is very hard indeed. 

I find that you’re a carrot 

And I thought you were a weed! 



28 


OUTDOORS AND US 


The Sand Carpenter 

Dad makes houses out of brick, 

And nails and plaster. 

And though his hands are very quick 
I make mine faster! 

And mine are much more grand : 

For mine have towers and domes and gildings 
And his are very simple buildings. 

He uses shingles, lathes, and beams, 

And I use sand! 







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OUTDOORS AND US 


29 


A Soap Bubble Pipe 

The things you can make with a soap bubble 
pipe! 

With a soapsuds bowl and a soap bubble pipe 
And glycerine in the water! 

Bubbles and bubbles that float and fly 
Like toy balloons in a windy sky! 

Like little round moons with seas and lands! 
But you never must catch them in your hands? 
For the bubble balloons wilt suddenly, 

And there’s nothing but soap in your hands to 
see; 

A smear of soapsuds white and small 
So never try catching a bubble at all! 

Bubbles of blue 
And opal hue; 

Bubbles of red 
And purple too. 

Oh, the things you can make with a soap bubble 
pipe! 

With a soapsuds bowl and a soap bubble pipe, 
And glycerine in the water! 


30 


OUTDOORS AND US 


Where the Fairies Keep House 

We work, in our sand-pile, as carpenters do, 
At building up palaces, noble and grand. 
And perhaps, when we sleep, I think, don’t you? 
The fairies keep house in our houses of sand. 


OUTDOORS AND US 


31 


Our Constant Cat 

We’ve got a cat and his name is Zim 
And we wouldn’t take fifty cents for him 
Nor a pair of skates nor a rubber ball 
Nor a kite nor anything else at all. 

He’s black on top and he’s white below 
And wherever we play he wants to go. 

— Our Dad scolds sometimes — mother’n him. 
And we slink off, and are glad there’s Zim. 


OUTDOORS AND US 


Our Cornstalk House 

Houses of sand at sea-side-time 
In wintertime, houses of snow! 

And a hidden house in the garden, where 
The tallest cornstalks grow! 

Though the house that we live in, is nice, when 
rainy; 

And it has the most useful shelves 
For toys, still Em’ly and I and Janey 
Like the houses we build ourselves 
A great deal better, and Uncle Jim 
Says, too, that they just suit him. 


OUTDOORS AND US 


33 


The Perkins Cat 

At the Perkins’ party all of the rest 
Laughed at me, for they were dressed 
In their Sunday clothes and all, and I came 
In my old blue gingham, but all the same, 
The Perkins cat liked me the best. 




34 


OUTDOORS AND US 


“I Know What Let’s Us Play!” 

Peggy Jane has an easy way 
Of thinking up new things each day. 

She shuts her eyes — but she doesn’t pray — 

But shouts, “I know what let’s us play!” 

And it’s always fun, the games she sees 
When her eyes are shut, and we tease and tease 
To know the magic word she uses. 

But she doesn’t tell things 
’less she chooses. 

But 1 can shut my eyes and sit 
And nothing at all will come of it. 

And none of the others ever see 

New games with their eyes shut, more than me. 

Tho’ we pull her hair and call her names 
She won’t tell how the wonderful games 
Come when you shut your eyes, just so. 

— And I’ll bet she won’t cause 
she — doesn’t know ! 


OUTDOORS AND US 


35 


Pe ggy Jane 

If you were kin to Peggy Jane, 

Like us, 

If you were kin to Peggy Jane, 
Though she has freckles, and is plain, 
Why, you’d think she was too, 

Like us, 

A nice girl to be cousin to! 

She’s not so pretty, auntie said, 

As we. She’s plain. 

I know, but when we’re sent to bed, 
Our supper only milk and bread, 

W e can’t make stories in our head 
Like Peggy Jane. 


36 


OUTDOORS AND US 


Kitten Thoughts 

Black little kitten with white little feet! 

Purr me your thoughts, and I’ll give 
you a penny! 

You say you are thinking of wee mice to eat? 
I’m sorry, dear pussy, I haven’t 
got any ! 










OUTDOORS AND US 


My Dog’s Mine 

Your dog may be a costly dog, 
And may be very fine ; 

Brave, and quick to turn a trick. 
But my dog’s mine ! 


38 


OUTDOORS AND US 


Their New Home 

I’m sorry for sardines; it’s true, 

I’m really sorrier for them than 
For anything, ’cause think how you 
Would hate it if you had to, too, 
Exchange the ocean for a can ! 


OUTDOORS AND US 


39 


The Christmas Candles 

The Christmas candles burn and glow, 
And scatter starlight, every one; 

They never thought that they, would know 
Such fun. 

They waited, lying white in rows 
In a tight box upon the shelves, 
Frightened a bit perhaps (who knows?) 
Themselves; 

Until at last, like cherrybloom, 

They blossomed on our Christmas tree 
And looking out around the room, 

Saw me! 


40 


OUTDOORS AND US 


The Blue Egg 

There’s a nest with a robin’s egg, and it’s blue 
And new! 

When I looked, away the robin flew. 

Come back, mother bird, to your tree 
You’ll see how good I shall be! 

I’ll tiptoe far< 

From where robins are 
You needn’t be ’fraid of me! 

For I want that queer little egg of blue 
In the nest, to be a robin too ! 


OUTDOORS AND US 


41 



What the Bird Said About Us 

To a branch of our birch-tree climbed a bird 
And he talked about us because we heard ! 
He said we were stupid, Jim and I, 

And only walked; ’cause we couldn’t fly; 
And he said we hadn’t a song to say 
But he likes us awfully, anyway! 



42 


OUTDOORS AND US 


The Monosyllabic Ducklet 

Waddling white ducklet, with only one word 
to your name, 

“Quack, quack, quack, quack,” always and ever 
the same, 

Do you wish, for a change, some day, somehow, 

You could just say “moo,” like our white-faced 
cow? 

Or, perhaps, “Bow-wow”? 

Or, “Meow, meow”? 

Like Rover and Puss, ere you had to go back 

Forever and ever to saying, “Quack, quack”? 


OUTDOORS AND US 


43 


Wise Mother Nature 

I’d like to be a cow, but I don’t know how 
I’d ever stand around so still. 

I’d like to be a dog, or a sing-song frog, 

But I really hardly think I ever will! 

For we’ve not much choice as to being frogs or 
boys — 

And I think perhaps it’s just as well. 

It would seem nice, to be guinea-pigs or mice, 
But after all, you never can tell. 


44 


OUTDOORS AND US 


The Ideal Birthday 

If I could choose my birthday plans 
I know just what they’d be 
We’d bake a candle-cake, and have 
A Pirate in for tea. 


OUTDOORS AND US 


45 


The Temptation to Work 

I wish I’d a penny, a penny to spend! 

But now I’ve not any, not any to spend! 

Oh, what good are wishes, unless I do dishes 
Or go to the garden, and stoop down and bend? 
For I must go weeding for what I am needing 
Mother says, for it’s workers have pennies to 
spend. 

No, idle folks never have any to spend 
But workers have always a penny to spend! 

And I think I’d be lazy — but pink lemonade 
Is so awfully nice, through a straw, in the shade ! 


46 


OUTDOORS AND US 



What to Do on Saturday 

Take a beech leaf for a sail, for a hull a cedar 
chip, 

Take a twig for a mast, and you have a proper 
ship. 

Then scoop with your hands, and make a little 
bay, 

And launch it in the brooklet — Ship, sail away! 


OUTDOORS AND US 


47 


So Not 

The things that pretend, like a rocking-horse 
horse, 

Are nice, and an eyes-that-shut doll. 

But the nice things aren’t real — parents paint 
Easter eggs, 

And Santa Claus isn’t — that’s all ! 

The real things are washing well back of our 
ears 

And scrubbing our neck and our fore- 
head; 

And filling the woodbox is real ; and 
our sums; 

And all of the real things are horrid! 

Sometime, someone, somewhere once made 
a mistake 

And he’s not made it right — though he 
ought. 

For the things that pretend are so 
awfully nice. 

And the things that are real are 
so not! 


48 


OUTDOORS AND US 


When You’re Going on Seven 

When you’re going on seven — and how I know 
Is, I’m going on seven — you do hate so 
Children tagging everywhere you go ! 

Sister’s only five and the baby’s two 
But they have to do everything I do! 

And the other boys laugh — and the girls laugh 
too! 

When you’re going on seven — and how I know 
Is I’m going on seven — you do hate so 
Children tagging everywhere you go! 


OUTDOORS AND US 


49 


Building Blocks 

Uncle’s pocket’s always filled! 

And he brought some blocks to build 
Trains and churches and a steeple. 
Uncles are the nicest people ! 


50 


OUTDOORS AND US 


To a Hobby Horse at Bedtime 

Hobby horse, hobby horse, let me mount and 
ride you, 

Hobby horse, hobby horse, of shining dap- 
pled gray, 

If you knew the danger, I’d not have to spur 
or chide you ! 

Oh how you would gallop then, to bear me 
far away! 

Hobby horse, hobby horse, take me far from 
scolding, 

Far away from duties, see, I call you in my 
need, 

My feet are in your stirrups deep, and high your 
reins I’m holding 

Listen, loyal hobby horse, my silver-bitted 
steed, 

Don’t you wish a wind would come blowing all 
the clocks away? 

Take me, then, to lands of which no boy has 
ever read, 

Where it’s never time to put one’s sword and 
drum and blocks away, 

Take me to a country where they never go 
to bed! 






OUTDOORS AND US 


51 


The Battlefield of the Kitchen 
Floor 

Paper doll soldiers spread on the floor! 

In rows upon rows, of squad and corps, 
Battalion, regiment, company! 

Soldiers as far as the eye can see ! 
Marching to glory and fame and gore, 
Over the field of the kitchen floor! 

Cherry stones soaked carefully 
In boiling water are clean as can be. 
Every marching soldier’s dressed 
In uniform, and on his breast 
A cherry stone we duly lay 
And with our marbles take good aim 
And shoot the cherry stones away ! 

Oh, it is a splendid game! 

If the stone’s knocked off, why then 
He’s dead. The captains all count ten. 
The one who loses the most men 
Is beaten, of course. Then, as before 
We range them all in rows once more 
And play again. And oh the roar 
And thunder and shouts and noise of war 
On the battlefield of our kitchen floor! 


52 


OUTDOORS AND US 




What the Little Shoes Know 

The little shoes beg to go down the street 
In case there’s an organ man 

And the little shoes hate the garden gate 
They mustn’t go farther than! 

But the little shoes know that if 
they go 

Too far, (because once they tried it) 

They’ll be taken off, and stood by the 
bed 

With the boy that they 

own, inside it! 



OUTDOORS AND US 


53 


When I’m Grown Up and Am 
President 

When I’m grown up and am president 
I’ll go and live in a khaki tent 
With a frying pan and a fishing- 
pole 

And I will not have to mind a 
soul ! 

When I’m president, and go fishing — ah — 
— Yes, I’m coming to fill the woodbox, ma! 


OUTDOORS AND US 


A Candle’s Not Much Company 

Some nights the moon is in the room 
And makes things safe and clear. 

The table’s not a pirate then, 

Nor the chiffonier. 

But sometimes moons are somewhere else 
And I’m alone, then, quite. 

— A candle’s not much company 
When its very dark at night ! 


OUTDOORS AND US 


55 


Yesterday I Was Nine Years Old 

Yesterday I was nine years old 
And today I’m ten. 

I didn’t know what it meant to be old 
And careful then. 

I let my hair fall over my eyes; 

And shouted and ran 
Because no little girl ever tries 
To do what she can 

To be lady-like when she’s nine years old; 

But you try hard when 
After waiting years and years, 

At last you’re ten! 

So I keep my dress un-mussed and 
my hair 

And sit up straight in a parlor chair 
While the others romp as I used to do, 

And I don’t wish I were out there, too. 

And I’m glad I’m ten. — But it was fine 
When I wasn’t grown-up, and was only nine ! 


56 


OUTDOORS AND US 


An Enemy to Errands 

If I could find the house where live 
The Errand family, 

While every Errand loud did snore, 
I’d creep up soft and lock the door, 
And throw away the key ! 


OUTDOORS AND US 


57 


The Envious Errand 

Whenever I am deep in books, or any kind of 
piay 

An interrupting errand comes, and takes me 
clean away. 

Those envious little errands never like me to 
have fun, 

And when I’ve finished any, there’s another 
to be done. 



58 


OUTDOORS AND US 


Coyotes 

Behind our cottage high on a hill 
They howl ! and howl ! and howl ! until 
I almost think I can hear them say 
“Where is that boy we saw today 
Down by the lake, past the tamarack tree? 

I’d like a bite of him, wouldn’t you?” 

And the other coyotes howl, “Me too-oo!” 

And the boy that they want a bite of ’s me ! 

And I crawl down under the sheet and spread, 
And I’m glad there’s house and I’m glad there’s 
bed, 

And that everything’s civilized now. But they 
Aren’t or they wouldn’t howl that way! 

And I hark to that howl until 
I’m sure 

It’s a closer howl than it was 
before ! 

— And I’m glad there’s a lock on our front 
door! 


OUTDOORS AND US 


59 


The Folks Who Live in Fairy- 
land 

The folks who live in Fairyland 
Have lovely weather. 

It never rains, I understand; 

And I doubt whether 
The gentlest breezes, even, play 
For fear of blowing folks away ! 


60 


OUTDOORS AND US 


Pink 

I like a pink dress, and Cousin Sue 
Can’t be glad in a dress not blue. 

Beryl likes yellow, and Bess likes white. 
And Peg says purple is her delight. 

It shows how strangely people think! 

I should think they’d know that the best 
is pink! 


OUTDOORS AND US 


If I’m Good All Through 
December 

If I’m good all through December 
Maybe Santa’ll not remember 
All the naughty things that I 
Did last April and July 
Less’n mother, ’n dad, maybe, 

Sort o’ jog his memory! 


62 


OUTDOORS AND US 


A Piece of Eight and a Parrot 
Yellow 

A pirate’s child’s a happy one 
His life is most exciting! 

From the break of day till set of sun 
There’s cutlasses and fighting. 

A piece of eight and a parrot yellow ! 

Oh, a pirate’s child is a lucky fellow ! 

He doesn’t learn to add or read 
For there’s nothing to add, so where’s the need? 
And on pirates’ ships, when you’ve just to look 
Out on the deck, who’d need a book? 

And pirates’ children grow to be 
Pirates too, and sail the sea ! 

Alas, alas for children whose 
Fathers preach or patch up shoes! 












^ - 































































































































* 

























OUTDOORS AND US 


63 


At Just About Bedtime 

At just about bedtime I think of lovely games to 
play, 

Things I never think of ’til the day’s gone 
by. 

The blocks begin such lovely towers; the Noahs 
march so nicely 

At just about bedtime and I wonder why! 

Why can’t I ever think of all these pleasant 
things, I wonder, 

When it’s only in the morning and I’m 
freshly come awake? 

Or when it’s still the afternoon with hours and 
hours for playing? 

If there were not any bedtime, oh the lovely 
things I’d make! 


<34 


OUTDOORS AND US 


The Gwendolyn Complex 

There’s nothing could be quite so plain 
As anybody that’s been called Jane 

I look in the glass and what I see 
Is a girl that isn’t at all like me! 

For I am beautiful inside 
And full of loveliness and pride 
The loveliest maiden east or west ! 



But in the glass I’m gingham-dressed! 
And mother calls me “Don’t be late!” 
And I look once more, and my hair 
is straight ! 

But how could I keep from being plain 
When — how could they do it? — They 
called me Jane! 

But we were talking at school today; 
And every girl in the 3rd Grade A 
Wishes her name were different 
And that is called not being content, 
My mother said — and stroked my hand. 
But her name’s not Jane , — she can’t 
understand ! 

But how content I could have been 
If my name were Gwendolyn! 


OUTDOORS AND US 


65 


The Sea Is a Fat Nurse 

The sea is a fat nurse 
Dressed in blue. 

Her apron has a white frill ; 

Her cap has, too. 

The sea is a fat nurse. 

And when the shadows creep 
She sits close, close beside us, 

And sings us off to sleep. 


66 


OUTDOORS AND US 


The Neighbor Bird 

I know your name, do you know mine, 

Queer little bird in the old brown pine? 

Do you know my name? If you don’t, you 
should 

Because we both live here in this wood, 

And neighbors always ought, my mother 
Says, to be friendly to each other! 


OUTDOORS AND US 


G7 


Pirates and Things 


Six times six is thirty-six, 

But what I want to know, 

Is what became of Arthur’s knights 
And where did the dragons go? 


6 x 6= ? 



A noun is the name of anything 
A verb’s an action word, 

I’ve listened day after day in school, 

And those are the things I heard ! 

I want to know about eagle’s wings 
And pirates and things — 

And what’s the use of books, and going 
To school, to learn what it’s no fun knowing? 



68 


OUTDOORS AND US 


Errands 

Ships and lands, and wars and steeds — 

Oh the lovely things one reads! 

And to have to stop instead, 

And go to the grocery store for bread ! 


OUTDOORS AND US 


69 


A Parrot to a Pirate’s Child 

A parrot to a pirate’s child 
Must be a very pleasant 
And natural birthday present. 

Or a piece of eight, or maybe two 
I think he’d like, don’t you? 

My father gives me different things 
And doesn’t have round curtain rings 
In his ears, or come from foreign shores. 
Does yours? 

Though my father’s nice as he can be 
I wish he had run away to sea, 

And we were a pirate’s family! 


70 


OUTDOORS AND US 


The Pirates’ Fight 

Pirates and parrots and gold and a quest, 

Broad sash of scarlet, and great hairy 
chest ! 

Pistol, and cutlass slipped out of its sheath, 

Sharp glinting knife between white shin- 
ing teeth. 

Parrots that chatter, and cry through the fight. 
Deck of a ship in the slipping moonlight. 

Clutching, and struggling, and shouts on the air. 
Once there were pirates — and I wasn’t 
there ! 



THE END 




































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